I felt a bit tense when my family asked me to open my social media. You know how we talk about privacy and all that, but on the other hand, it feels like I have nothing to hide. If I open it, it seems like I would have to share every moment of my life with them. Do you think I should let them in, or should I draw the line? I'm really stuck in between.
I had the same thing happen to me. Once I got into university, I felt liberated and thought I'd add everyone, but when my mom wanted to add me, it felt a bit odd. I accepted, but I made a list of things I don't share with her. I felt more comfortable that way.
This feeling is really tough because on one hand, you're like, "what's there to hide?" but on the other hand, it feels like "are they going to know every detail about me?" For example, they might find it intrusive even seeing the story you post when you wake up, and you're right about that.
But wait a minute, you say "I have nothing to hide" but you're still uncomfortable. I think we need to clarify things here. Is the main issue them seeing it, or is it the thought of "what will they say" while sharing? Because those are two different things.
In such situations, it is important to set clear boundaries between individuality and family. Since social media is a contact area, methods such as creating a separate account or using a private list to filter out things they 'would prefer not to see' can be helpful.
Well, actually, as you said, the "what will they say" part is a bit of pressure. Because I hesitate that my mom might criticize one of my stories, for example. My dad doesn't interfere that much, but I also don't want him to know everything 😅
Actually, this is quite normal. Older family members are now active on social media; it's something everyone experiences. It's not absolutely necessary to add them, so you don't have to ask for permission. Finding the right balance is important.
I think you should have an open conversation first. Say something like, "Add me, but I may not want to share everything with you." Then you can set up special filters. For example, you can exclude them from seeing certain things in your stories. This way, relationships don't get tense, and you feel comfortable.
